In what may be the most ironic twist in Guyana’s political season and a stinging rebuke to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, some of the most powerful Western diplomats sat down last Friday with presidential candidate Azruddin Mohamed and senior members of his We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) party.
The meeting involved representatives of the ABCEU nations, namely the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, even as commercial banks and at least one local airline continue to restrict Mohamed’s access to services.
Mohamed has been under U.S. Treasury Department sanctions since 2024, imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Citing those sanctions, Citizens Bank, Demerara Bank, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, and the New Building Society have frozen the accounts of WIN candidates, also invoking Guyana’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. To date, none have publicly identified the specific provisions that justify such measures.
The banks’ moves have been backed by the Guyana Association of Bankers Inc, while Roraima Airways has refused to transport Mohamed. To date, none have publicly identified the specific provisions that justify such measures. These moves have been backed by the Guyana Bankers Association, while Roraima Airways has refused to transport Mohamed.
Notably absent from the meeting was U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot, though an Embassy political affairs officer attended in her stead. The optics, analysts say, send one of two messages: either the diplomatic community accepts that WIN’s list, approved by the Guyana Elections Commission, meets the legal requirements to contest, or it rejects the bank, airline, and government’s rush to impose penalties on Mohamed and his team without due process-a fundamental human right- and conviction.
“The sanctimonious crews at the airline, banks, and government must be scratching their heads because they look foolish,” one commentator told this publication, adding that WIN “is always two-three steps ahead of the PPP and its allies, and that is probably giving them belly wuk.”
In a statement after the August 8 meeting at WIN’s Campaign Office in Greenfield, East Bank Demerara, the party confirmed the attendance of British High Commissioner Jane Caroline Miller, Canadian High Commissioner Sébastian Sigouin, Head of the EU Delegation Rene Van Nes, and U.S. Embassy Political Affairs Officer Rector. WIN was represented by Mohamed and senior party officials.
WIN said the talks underscored a shared commitment to free, fair, and peaceful elections in Guyana. The discussions also covered sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, and the evolving political landscape.
The party reaffirmed its dedication to democratic principles, transparency, and national unity while stressing the need for governance that delivers lasting solutions for all Guyanese. WIN also reiterated its vision for equitable economic opportunities, climate resilience, and protection of the fundamental rights of every citizen.
